Posted By David Licata on July 12, 2011 When I first interviewed Robert Darden of the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project for A Life’s Work in Chicago (August 2009), one collector’s name came up again and again. Bob Marovich. Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, radio announcer, and journalist. Since 2001, he has hosted “Gospel Memories,” a weekly radio program featuring classic gospel on WLUW Chicago. He is currently at work on a book-length history of gospel music in Chicago, to be published in 2013, and is the editor of The Black Gospel Blog. The idea to interview Marovich came to me as I was editing ...

  Gospel Music Historian Bob Marovich on the PCC Network Community Forum from PCC Studio Bob Marovich discuss the roots of the “Chicago Style” of Black Gospel Music.

You don’t want to miss my second special guest, Black Gospel Music Expert Bob Marovich–oh, and by the way: HE’S WHITE! I thot this was super-duper cool and can’t wait to talk to him this week! He’s a gospel radio announcer, music historian and reviewer–and you are going to want to hear what this man has to say! Check him out on www.blackgospelblog.com“

Gospel artist, songwriter, and iconic choir director Ricky Dillard tells TBGB’s Bob Marovich about his early music influences; the growth and development of New G; how grace undergirds his new album, Amazing; and how he is tackling personal health issues and the violence plaguing Chicago neighborhoods. A

Ami Rushes visits The Black Gospel Blog Virtual Interview Room to talk about her new CD, Stand Up for Jesus, and how the late Rev. James Cleveland helped her get started in gospel music.  

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog The odds are less than 100 to 1 that a high school baseball player will go pro. That didn’t deter Todd Dulaney. “For years, my parents and I, we traveled from city to city, playing travel league baseball,” Dulaney told TBGB. “That’s all I wanted to do. When I got drafted at 18, I was locked and loaded! That was my passion!” Today, Dulaney is a Stellar-nominated gospel singer. But in 2001, the Maywood, Illinois native beat the odds and was drafted by the New York Mets. He moved to St. Lucie, ...

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. Myron Butler is an award-winning singer, songwriter, worship leader and producer.  He spent time with TBGB recently to talk about his latest CD, Worship, released last month on EMI Gospel. Born in Bradenton, Florida, the Baptist-bred Butler’s first taste of gospel music came, naturally, in church. “Before I ever had a song recorded,” he said, “I played for Sunday School.” He also directed the church’s youth Sunshine Band. From the start, Butler was inspired by the music of the late Thomas Whitfield. “Thomas Whitfield was where it began,” he said. “From his harmonic structure to the ...

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. Syreeta Thompson is in a class by herself. Literally. The Chicago-born artist is the only female gospel singer who plays trumpet. Even the trumpets she carries are distinctive: one is white, the other red. Syreeta picked up the trumpet at age twelve, she told TBGB during a visit to Chicago last weekend. There was one caveat. “In order for me to play trumpet, my mother said I had to play it in church. So I sat in the corner with the other musicians at the True Church House of Prayer of All Nations. ...

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. Yolanda Adams is one of gospel music’s most effective multitaskers.  She’s a singer, songwriter, author, mother, syndicated radio host and recording artist. Now — and it makes sense — one of the best dressed gospel singers has become a clothes designer. The four-time GRAMMY-winning artist spent time with TBGB to discuss her new CD, Becoming, and Yolanda Adams Collection. TBGB: When you were singing with the Southeast Inspirational Choir, did you harbor a hope that someday you would be where you are today, or was it a “never in my wildest dreams” kind of thing? YA: This is definitely ...

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog. Scan the liner notes of a gospel CD and chances are you will see the name of Jonathan DuBose, Jr. listed among the musicians. Not surprising: DuBose has been an in-demand guitarist in the sacred and secular music arenas for many years. DuBose recently spoke with TBGB about his beginnings, where his career has taken him thus far, and his passion for “C.A.U.S.” Beginnings in Bridgeport Born December 12, 1960, DuBose first picked up steel string guitars at age four when his mother and father, quartetter Jonathan DuBose Sr. of the Sensational ...